Faces of Mission Lazarus ....................................
Leonardo
Ken is the clinic evangelist. He prepares weekly themes from
the Bible and gives daily devotionals at the clinic. Leonardo christens
each day by bringing the Word of God to the ears of not only the
patients, but the entire clinic team as well. Leonardo is available
to any patient who has a desire to study the Bible more, or needs
prayer or encouragement, and has his own "office"where
he can provide "spriritual counsel" to anyone needing
assistance.
Abner Maradiaga is the man who does it all. His responsibilities
are varied. He has professional experience as a driver for the military,
and carries the clinic team to its destination each day. Abner also
acts as guard and handyman for the clinic, and when his responsibilities
at the clinic end for the day, often Abner has other duties to complete
within Mission Lazarus.
Juan
'Juancito' Gradiz is the full-time preacher in San Marcos. He
is 25 years old and takes care of his six brothers and sisters,
as well as his mother. Juancito has an unquenchable thirst to learn,
whether studying the Bible, learning English, or carpentry. Juan
graduated in 2003 from Baxter Institute's weekend program. Juan
wants to motivate the church to become personally involved in service
in the church. Already a sewing school meets daily at the church
and studies Bible. Juan will be collaborating closely with the director
of the ECDC to open in San Marcos in 2005. Juan has an avid interest
in youth and evangelism in general, and has targeted several outlying
areas around San Marcos, such as Duyure and El Rodeo, where he and
church members visit weekly for Bible study. Plans are underway
to construct a mission house in Duyure where church meetings and
outreaches can take place.
Leonardo and Karla Ken joined Mission Lazarus in July 2004.
They have one daughter, a three year old named Caroline. Leonardo's
primary responsibility is evangelism. He travels with the clinic
four days a week, and teaches weekly Bible class in Las Pitas. Karla
joined the mission as the director for the new ECDC in San Marcos.
This couple has a fantastic and untiring spirit for God's work,
and as a couple, work together with Juan Gradiz to evangelize more
of San Marcos and surrounding areas.
Jarrod
and Allison Brown are the on-site coordinators of Mission Lazarus
projects. As director of operations, Jarrod has various responsibilities,
many of which keep him tied to his office desk, as well as many
(more enjoyable) hands-on tasks, such as teaching Bible class or
preaching, and exploring new villages and making new contacts with
village leaders. Allison is a licensed nurse practitioner. She works
as administrator and clinician in Mission Lazarus clinic and coordinates
medical brigades from the U.S. Jarrod and Allison have one daughter,
Soledad, soon to reach the 'terrible two's' and a son, Levi, born
in May 2005.
Leonardo
Ken is the clinic evangelist. He prepares weekly themes from
the Bible and gives daily devotionals at the clinic. Leonardo christens
each day by bringing the Word of God to the ears of not only the
patients, but the entire clinic team as well. Leonardo is available
to any patient who has a desire to study the Bible more, or needs
prayer or encouragement, and has his own "office"where
he can provide "spriritual counsel" to anyone needing
assistance.
Abner Maradiaga is the man who does it all. His responsibilities
are varied. He has professional experience as a driver for the military,
and carries the clinic team to its destination each day. Abner also
acts as guard and handyman for the clinic, and when his responsibilities
at the clinic end for the day, often Abner has other duties to complete
within Mission Lazarus.
Juan
'Juancito' Gradiz is the full-time preacher in San Marcos. He
is 25 years old and takes care of his six brothers and sisters,
as well as his mother. Juancito has an unquenchable thirst to learn,
whether studying the Bible, learning English, or carpentry. Juan
graduated in 2003 from Baxter Institute's weekend program. Juan
wants to motivate the church to become personally involved in service
in the church. Already a sewing school meets daily at the church
and studies Bible. Juan will be collaborating closely with the director
of the ECDC to open in San Marcos in 2005. Juan has an avid interest
in youth and evangelism in general, and has targeted several outlying
areas around San Marcos, such as Duyure and El Rodeo, where he and
church members visit weekly for Bible study. Plans are underway
to construct a mission house in Duyure where church meetings and
outreaches can take place.
Jarrod
and Allison Brown are the on-site coordinators of Mission Lazarus
projects. As director of operations, Jarrod has various responsibilities,
many of which keep him tied to his office desk, as well as many
(more enjoyable) hands-on tasks, such as teaching Bible class or
preaching, and exploring new villages and making new contacts with
village leaders. Allison is a licensed nurse practitioner. She works
as administrator and clinician in Mission Lazarus clinic and coordinates
medical brigades from the U.S. Jarrod and Allison have one daughter,
Soledad, soon to reach the 'terrible two's' and a son, Levi, born
in May 2005.